"Not a good experience"

This review refers to Plymouth Options/Livewell at Centre Court, Exeter St. where I was seen for an initial assessment.

On the plus side, some of the staff were friendly and helpful.

On the less positive side other staff walk passed without even saying hello.

There is no-one sat at reception to greet you when you come in.

I left the assessment feeling like I was not really understood and their was little empathy or interest in my situation.

I felt I spoke with honesty and openness about some difficult and painful experiences and was met with a box ticking and slightly bored approach.

This experience has left me more depressed and the feeling (pun intended) that there may be less options than I previously imagined.

The assessment form asks about experiences based on the last two weeks only - this seems particularly ironic when there appears to be a three month waiting list for any course - but more importantly does not allow the patient to express how long they have been suffering from these problems.

When you have struggled with problems for years two weeks are insignificant.

It then grades your levels of depression/anxiety etc. with a number system.

Not only is this dehumanising - it also appears to be nonsensical.

If you've slept reasonably well and your appetite is good you may get a low score regardless of the fact that you have had suicidal thoughts almost every day.

To me, labeling feeling suicidal as 'a bit of a low mood' seems wrong.

No doubt this system is evidence based, but not everyone will fit the system and an assessment of this nature should be based on the individual or at least give that person some sense that they are an individual not just another statistic.

On reflecting on the assessment I realized that at no point was I asked basic questions of care such as 'what is my support network/who else can I talk to?'.

Also, key areas of influence on my condition - such as my mentioning a close family member's suicide were not picked up on at all.

I admit that I didn't enter the assessment with the most positive attitude (I'd read the reviews before I went) - but a) a professional in this field should be able to work around that and b) positive attitudes are in short supply when you're severely depressed.

I feel I may also have come across as coping with my condition better than I actually am - this is perhaps the most worrying aspect because a professional should be able to pick up on this.

All in all it felt like Plymouth Options is symptomatic of a system struggling to cope and set up in a way that (judging from the other reviews here) may, in some circumstances, be causing more damage than good.

Obviously, there are many people using Plymouth Options and having positive experiences, but I write this only so that people can be wary.